Step up to Tour Easy?

I have been riding an EZ Sport AX for 3 seasons now and really like it. It is finally dialed in and I have done some serious upgrades. The bike responded well to better wheels and an upgraded drivetrain. I tried to get Easyracers to make me a full carbon cobra seat for it, but they wouldn't do it. The guys in the factory were ok with it but management said no.
So, Ive been contemplating upgrading to a TE. The weight savings are small, only 2-3 lbs. Supposedly, the seat base is molded and more comfortable. The Sport seat is good, but not great, so some improvement would be welcome. What other benefits could I expect? I'd like to hear from riders who have made the switch. Before I drop about 3K, that is. Thanks, bk

If you enjoy riding LWB recumbents, then I think you'll love the Tour Easy. As you say, the weight savings compared to an EZ Sport are no big deal -- not many recumbent riders quibble over a few grams, or even a kilogram or two -- but the overall geometry and "feel" of the bike are fantastic. I'm embarrassed now that I can't make that point more quantitative...but more than any other bike I've ridden, the Tour Easy gives me a sense of "this is exactly what a bicycle should be."

I prefer the mesh seat to the cobra, but I've ridden both, and I think you'll be happy either way. A lot of people find the cobra seat better for climbing, but I just make sure to carry low enough gears that I can spin up any hill at decent rpms...we've got some ridiculous mountain grades around here, and I'm no slower climbing them on a Tour Easy than I am on an upright road bike. (Which is to say, I'm pretty damned slow either way...but sooner or later, I do reach the top of those mountains.)

Originally Posted by bkaapcke

The guys in the factory were ok with it but management said no.

One of the things I love about Easyracers is that the management are the guys in the factory. First time I wandered in there, I was greeted at the door by Gardner Martin (RIP Gardner -- we miss you, but your friends are doing a great job with your company.) These days, I always run into Freddy Markham, Denton Coetzee, or both...and they are always glad to drop whatever they're doing to help solve some puzzle I've run into while working on my bike. Putting a carbon cobra seat on an EZ Sport is exactly the kind of challenge they seem to enjoy...so if the "management said no", it's probably because they gave it a shot, and they found that it wouldn't work.

Another bike similar to the Tour Easy is the Cycle Genius Falcon, for around $1200. The Cycle Genius sits just a bit higher. Cycle Genius weight = 36 lbs, compared to the Sun EZ-Sport @ 40 lbs.

Someone in another thread noted they had a TE for a while and had issues with the non-adjustable seat base. The Cycle Genius seat base does adjust for tilt, not a great amount but somewhat. The Cycle Genius does not have a cobra seat available however, if you were absolutely detirmined to have that particular feature.
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I was hoping there would be more concrete reasons than this. BTW, the EZ Sport AX is 34 lbs, so the weight savings on a Med/large TE would be about two lbs. That is part of why I wanted the full carbon cobra seat. It would save 2lbs, making the weight about equal. bk

All I'm hearing is 'fast' and a nominal increase in seat comfort. At 59, I'm in it for the workout, so I don't really need fast. The weight savings simply isn't there, so it gets down to comfort. 3K for a minor improvement? I don't think so. Maybe a used one that I can upgrade at my own pace would be a better way to go. bk

A TourEasy is fairly fast. Not racer-fast, but fast enough to be sporty. With a Zzipper fairing, I always rated a TE a little bit faster than my V-Rex, which is also 'sporty-fast.' The GRR is lighter and stiffer. Whether or not the GRR is worth 1K more is a personal choice. I agree, the riding position is very comfortable, although a little bit prone to getting recumbutt.

Since you've got "the bug", it won't cost you anything to test ride some 'bents if you can get to a shop. There's a lot of nice riding 'bents out there, and you might find one you like more than your BikeE. My friend just got a used one, and the seat on my Stratus is much more comfy than his.

Buy a stationary recumbent exercise machine. Cost is minimal compared to the TE; if fast is not a consideration, sitting in the same place should be the best of two worlds. Just crank the resistence down and work out all you want fast, economically and easy. You could probably sell your EZ for enough to buy the exercise machine.

Bkaapcke doesn't HAVE a BikeE, he has an EZ-1. Similar, but different!

And I must add that "Gordon-the-big-blue-express-locomotive w/tender" is a favorite around here!
It's the XL frame, with the tailpiece reinforced with a chunk of ash. The second seat (tender) is just another BikeE seat I got from the factory (back in '97). I made rear pegs that mount with the standard BikeE accessory mount.

If you want to try different 'bents, come see me. I even have one more that's not in the picture!

Hey Dr. Do you have a site for your paintshop? I'm in Marin County and just bought my first bent, a Sun EZ-Sport AX. Aside from the boat-anchor wheels [soon to be replaced], I'm happy with the bike, but go in and out on the retro orange & black paint. Sometimes I dig the pedaling-a-Harley vibe, sometimes not so much. I could be interested in a solid color powdercoat.

Prices aren't listed, as each frame I paint has different requirements, so I do quotes on each specific job request. Base single color job starts at $350.
If you want decals applied, you have to source them yourself!
Sorry to have to be so terse, but after the Corky decal fiasco, I'm DONE with sourcing decals!

But you CAN contact JRrestore here on BF's! He makes wonderful decals for one-off.

The BEST decals are from Screen Speciaties Shop Ink, but only economically feasible if you need 10 or more sets! (you could even make some money, offering the other 9 sets on eBay)